April 30, 2024

Relieving the Pipetting Toll for Better Results

BRANDTECH ScientificMany experiments need repeated pipetting steps, from setting up a dilution series to assembling hundreds of PCR or sequencing assays. While manual pipetting may appear inevitable for many researchers, modern-day liquid handling stations can look after a variety tasks, from simple liquid transfers to complex assay established. Such systems totally free researchers to utilize their expertise for more technical endeavors.The Drawbacks of Manual PipettingRepetitive laboratory jobs can take a toll on the body. Extended, manual pipetting stresses researchers hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders, causing disorders including carpal tunnel syndrome.1 Chronic pain related to these disorders can cause pipetting mistakes and even require some researchers to leave the bench.In addition to the effects of physical fatigue, repeated pipetting tasks are laborious and can easily cause a scientist to lose their focus and make mistakes. Such pipetting mistakes result in unsuccessful assays or inaccurate results.Modern Liquid Handling for Every LaboratoryThe BRAND Liquid Handling Station (LHS) automates pipetting jobs for a range of vessels, including tanks, tubes, and 96- and 384-well plates. Beneficial for regular pipetting tasks, experiments with complex pipetting patterns, and assays where speedy mixing is key, scientists can integrate this compact instrument into their existing lab spaces and workflows.The LHS has 7 work positions and six liquid-handling ends, which scientists can easily fit with different single- or multi-channel pipette heads. Scientists can equip it with numerous accessories, including heated shakers and cooling blocks, to meet various speculative needs.The LHS software application guides users through technique creation and worktable setup. Researchers can configure a simulated procedure prior to the real run and receive e-mail and sound notifications throughout the procedure. With the help of the software application, scientists can quickly conserve and establish pipetting programs for commonly-performed experiments, including dilution series, PCRs, ELISAs, and enzyme assays.Process ValidationBRANDTECH ScientificThe LHS shines in testing samples throughout process recognition. For example, unique instrument cleaners must eliminate residues and pollutants from surgical instruments prior to disinfection procedures. To evaluate cleansing performance, researchers should routinely monitor cleaned up instruments, such as scalpels and forceps, by measuring remaining protein residue. Automated liquid handlers make such processes effective and dependable. One recognition service supplier involved in instrument testing used the BRAND LHS on protein- and SDS-containing samples and found that it regularly pipetted sample replicates, leading to accurate protein measurements.2 Keeping Experiments Contaminant FreeManually pipetting into 384-well plates when setting up sequencing experiments bores, exhausting, and time consuming. In addition, having a plate exposed to the open air for the time it requires to complete numerous pipetting steps puts samples at danger for contamination.To investigate contamination potential, scientists utilized the BRAND LHS to fill a 384-well plate with deionized water and blue food coloring in an alternating, checkerboard pattern.3 They measured each wells absorbance on a plate reader to see if the food coloring wells had actually ended up being infected. The scientists observed absorbance readings that suggested no contamination or pipetting mistakes with either the multi-channel or single-channel liquid end of the LHS.For additional sample protection while pipetting, scientists can use the BRAND Liquid Handling Station circulation, a variation of the LHS that actively filters air horizontally through the workstation. Air then tires through openings in the front door of the liquid handler. This flow exchanges the ambient air more than 4 times per minute, quickly producing a particle-free environment.BRANDTECH Scientific is the US and Canadian division of Brand Group representing VITLAB, brand name, and vacuubrand products.ReferencesM. El-Helaly et al., “Carpal tunnel syndrome amongst lab professionals in relation to ergonomic and personal aspects at work,” J Occup Health, 59:513 -20, 2017.”Automated high-throughput liquid transfer of SDS samples,” BRAND, 2019, https://brandtech.com/wp-content/uploads/Application_note_LHS_EN_0219-1.pdf, accessed March 2, 2023.”Contamination-free, automated pipetting into 384-well microplates with the BRAND Liquid Handling Station,” BRAND, 2021, https://shop.brand.de/media/import/1/27/32406/42485/42559/42675/42693/Technical_Note_LHS_contamination-free_EN_0621.pdf, accessed March 2, 2023.

Extended, manual pipetting worries scientists hands, arms, shoulders, and wrists, leading to conditions consisting of carpal tunnel syndrome.1 Chronic pain associated with these conditions can lead to pipetting inaccuracies and even require some scientists to leave the bench.In addition to the results of physical tiredness, recurring pipetting tasks are laborious and can quickly cause a researcher to lose their focus and make errors. Beneficial for regular pipetting jobs, experiments with complex pipetting patterns, and assays where rapid blending is essential, scientists can incorporate this compact instrument into their existing lab areas and workflows.The LHS has seven work positions and six liquid-handling ends, which researchers can quickly fit with various single- or multi-channel pipette heads. The scientists observed absorbance readings that indicated no contamination or pipetting errors with either the single-channel or multi-channel liquid end of the LHS.For extra sample protection while pipetting, researchers can utilize the BRAND Liquid Handling Station circulation, a variation of the LHS that actively filters air horizontally through the workstation.